Japanese Maples

Tuesday

Nov 12, 2013 at 9:20 AM

When most people say Japanese maple they almost always mean Acer palmatum, although that distinction should probably go to Acer japonicum. But there are many maples that could claim that title as many of them are native to Japan as well as China and Korea.

Be that as it may, Acer palmatum with more than 2000 named cultivars coming in all shapes, sizes, leaf shapes, colors and growth habits has a valid claim to the title. The basic leaf shape is like the shape of a palm, but it can vary greatly between cultivars. The leaf color of the newly emerging leaves can vary widely; with some retaining the color throughout summer and others changing to various shades of green. Fall color is often a brilliant red. Growth habit can be bushy or tree-like having upright, vase-shaped or cascading forms. Some will grow to 15-20 feet; many will be in the 5-10 foot range and a few are five feet or less. Some make good subjects for bonsai. Pruning is usually not necessary, but I like to enhance the shape of a tree. Especially those having a mounding or cascading form to emphasize the branching instead of having a thicket of intertwining branches. After all this is one of the techniques in bonsai; to emphasize form.

There are a number of forms of Acer japonicum and the one I have is “aconitifolium” with deeply divided leaves; resembling the leaves of aconitum called monkshood or wolfbane. Mine is still a modest size, but in a garden near Seattle I saw a magnificent specimen that gave me a preview of things to come. The leaves and flowers are attractive and in the fall it is arrayed in vibrant orange.

The third of the “Japanese maples” is Acer shirasawanum. A common cultivar is “Golden Full Moon Maple” that has round “moon-shaped” leaves which in the sun have a golden hue that turns to brilliant reds and yellows in the fall. If I had room for another maple this would be a good choice.

It is hard to go wrong with any of them and difficult not to find one that suits your site. If you can find what you want at a local nursery; great, but you may have to go farther afield to a nursery that specializes in Japanese maples or mail order.

That takes care of the “Japanese” maples, but there are other worthy Asian maples such as the snake bark maples, the Asian counterpart to our moosewood. They provide year round interest with their green bark and white striping. But the ultimate in maples with interesting bark is the paper bark maple, Acer griseum. As it ages the reddish brown bark peals providing year round interest. In contrast to the large leaves of our moosewood, the paper bark has three small leaflets that turn a brilliant orange late in the fall when most other trees have dropped their leaves.

When most people say Japanese maple they almost always mean Acer palmatum, although that distinction should probably go to Acer japonicum. But there are many maples that could claim that title as many of them are native to Japan as well as China and Korea.
Be that as it may, Acer palmatum with more than 2000 named cultivars coming in all shapes, sizes, leaf shapes, colors and growth habits has a valid claim to the title. The basic leaf shape is like the shape of a palm, but it can vary greatly between cultivars. The leaf color of the newly emerging leaves can vary widely; with some retaining the color throughout summer and others changing to various shades of green. Fall color is often a brilliant red. Growth habit can be bushy or tree-like having upright, vase-shaped or cascading forms. Some will grow to 15-20 feet; many will be in the 5-10 foot range and a few are five feet or less. Some make good subjects for bonsai. Pruning is usually not necessary, but I like to enhance the shape of a tree. Especially those having a mounding or cascading form to emphasize the branching instead of having a thicket of intertwining branches. After all this is one of the techniques in bonsai; to emphasize form.
There are a number of forms of Acer japonicum and the one I have is “aconitifolium” with deeply divided leaves; resembling the leaves of aconitum called monkshood or wolfbane. Mine is still a modest size, but in a garden near Seattle I saw a magnificent specimen that gave me a preview of things to come. The leaves and flowers are attractive and in the fall it is arrayed in vibrant orange.
The third of the “Japanese maples” is Acer shirasawanum. A common cultivar is “Golden Full Moon Maple” that has round “moon-shaped” leaves which in the sun have a golden hue that turns to brilliant reds and yellows in the fall. If I had room for another maple this would be a good choice.
It is hard to go wrong with any of them and difficult not to find one that suits your site. If you can find what you want at a local nursery; great, but you may have to go farther afield to a nursery that specializes in Japanese maples or mail order.
That takes care of the “Japanese” maples, but there are other worthy Asian maples such as the snake bark maples, the Asian counterpart to our moosewood. They provide year round interest with their green bark and white striping. But the ultimate in maples with interesting bark is the paper bark maple, Acer griseum. As it ages the reddish brown bark peals providing year round interest. In contrast to the large leaves of our moosewood, the paper bark has three small leaflets that turn a brilliant orange late in the fall when most other trees have dropped their leaves.